Food security: CAADP 10% and ranking of African nations

NaijaAgroNet:

Preface:

THE Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) has said that the current public investments of 10 per cent in agriculture, across Africa’s national budgets remain small.

This is coming as agriculture is reportedly back on the political-policy agenda across the continent, although the 10 per cent budget allocation to agriculture remains inadequate.

CAADP and food insecurity;

A high-level meeting of African and International Leaders ended recently in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, tagged “Toward African Renaissance: Renewed Partnership for Unified Approach to End Hunger in Africa by 2025 within the CAADP Framework.”

While speaking there, the Head of the NEPAD Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Mr. Martin Bwalya, told NaijaAgroNet that CAADP framework was set up to curb food insecurity on the continent, even as he lamented that the current public investments of 10 per cent of annual budget into agriculture, across Africa’s national budgets remain abysmally low.

NaijaAgroNet: recalls that CAADP’s goal is to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty through agriculture and as a way of achieving this goal, African governments agreed to increase public investment in agriculture by a minimum of 10 per cent of their national budgets and to raise agricultural productivity by at least 6 per cent by the year 2015.

Although the 10 per cent budget allocation to agriculture remains inadequate, the good news seems to be that agriculture is reportedly back on the political-policy agenda across the continent, according to Mr. Bwalya, who declared “Agriculture is back to the political-policy agenda.”

He said that as ways of advancing CAADP implementation strategies in the last 10 years, there are some key results that have impacted on the initiative, namely that 43 out of 54 countries are actively engaged in the process. Also, he noted that 28 investment plans have been developed so far with 27 business meetings held while 31 countries seemed compacted to the scheme.

Bwalya’s sustenance modules:

Proffering further sustainable modules, he said that spotlights on the social protection integral to a growth and development agenda are no longer negotiable, just as cconsistent and coherent African vision, agenda and positions could serve as a boost to democratic governments and improved public finances-revenue, thereby seeing to improved planning for CAADP.

Urbanization across Africa is expected to grow to 50 per cent by 2013, while youthful population, that is 40 per cent for ages under 23 years, even as globalisation based on food and energy prices as well as climate change must be tackled to make a difference.

Further, he pointed out that growing political commitment to increased budgetary allocations was another boost for CAADP initiative, emphasising that regional integration and coordination based on evidence-based and peer-reviewed agricultural plans and programmes would go a long way in checkmating the food insecurity in Africa, asserting, “Poverty, hunger and malnutrition are one of the most critical factors pulling down Africa socio-economic growth and development.”

Nigeria ranking and food security

The latest Global Food Security Index (GFSI) reports made available to NaijaAgroNet, based on the indexing of three core categories, namely the affordability, availability, quality and safety, ranked Nigeria 86th out of 107 surveyed.

The GFSI published by Intelligence Unit of The Economist, also ranked Nigeria 84 in the quality and safety index explicitly.

The ranking, NaijaAgroNet: gathered showed that Nigeria scored 38.7 per cent  in category scores to emerge 84 in ranking, while within the availability scores, Nigeria was ranked 62, scoring 47.8 category score, even as in the affordability ranking category, Nigeria got 105 with 15.1 score.

All these brought about total ranking of Nigeria at 86, among the 107 countries indexed within the latest review with 33 scores.

According to The Economist, Nigeria’s strength was defined as any indicator score above 75.0; in the prevalence of undernourishment, intensity of food deprivation and volatility of agricultural production.

Whereas the challenges where found in presence of food safety net programmes, public expenditure on agricultural research and development (R&D) in addition to corruption.

NaijaAgroNet: recalls that currently Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) stood at USD283.3 billion; population at 170.1 million; Land Area at 910,770 sq km; prevalence of undernourishment 8.5  per cent.

Drop in rank by Burkina Faso

Equally, Burkina Faso, one of the West African countries, earlier this year reportedly recorded a drop in ranking on food security, according to GFSI, the country was ranked 92 out of the 107 countries assessed, thereby dropping by one place compared to last year; the score of 29.9 per cent, which is very low compared to the average score of 53.6 per cent.

The Index, an annual measure of the state of global food security, assesses three major categories of affordability, availability and quality and safety across 107 countries.  The GFSI, sponsored by DuPont, is compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The West African country performed below average on all the three categories of affordability, availability, and quality and safety, with the worst ranking being on availability at position 99. It was ranked 87 and 86 on quality and safety, and affordability respectively.

On affordability, Burkina Faso scored 26.7 per cent against an average of 52.8 per cent; on availability it got 30.8 per cent against 52.9 per cent and on quality and safety it had 35.1 per cent compared to 57.5 per cent.

The country dropped in scores on all the three major indicators. It dropped by almost six percentage point on quality and safety at 35.1 per cent. On availability, it dropped to 30.8 per cent from 34.4 per cent last year and on affordability 26.7 per cent down from 30 per cent, just as Burkina Faso was ranked 15 out of the 28 Sub-Saharan African countries.

Technology deployment, SSA biggest gain:

Regardless of Sub-Saharan Africa showing the biggest gain on food security, which climbed by just under one point; the findings revealed that food insecurity is a chronic problem and the region remains at the bottom of the Index.

The region continued to score the poorest of any region in food safety. The trend has been attributed to the presence of aflatoxins, produced by mould, in maize and peanuts.

South Africa and Botswana are the only countries from Sub-Saharan Africa to score above average. South Africa topped the lists on both affordability, quality and safety categories, and came second on availability in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Technology and biotechnology in particular could be the reason for this. South Africa, which began adopting agricultural biotechnology 12 years ago, has been able to control corn stem borer and parasitic plant infestations similar to those noted for other African countries. Consequently, South African corn farmers currently record much higher yields than farmers in the rest of Africa.

Burkina Faso hosts some 107,000 refugees from Mali and their presence on food and water resources, high food prices and conflict between refugees and host communities affect household access to sufficient and adequate food, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

Political response to agriculture:

NaijaAgroNet: gathered that Mr. Bwalya told his audience that by design, NEPAD and CAADP are political response to the poverty and food insecurity challenge, noting that chronic food insecurity and hunger is critical hindrance to socio-economic growth and development of the continent and could amount to restlessness in the geopolitics call Africa.

These were the compelling context that led to setting up of NEPAD and CAADP respectively, Mr. Bwalya pointed out that as at 2000, an estimated 40 per cent of people in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) lived below the poverty line of less than a Dollar per day. While the income and human poverty saw to the rise of social and economic inequality, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report of 2002, which stated that Africa is the only continent that has its 1/3 of its entire population living in chronic hunger.

He further noted that between 1980 and year 2000, Africa need for food and delivery requirement tripled in food emergencies, thus, it was a compelling context that led to the emergence of NEPAD and CAADP, lamenting however, that by 2000, there was no African country in the high group of Human Development Index (HDI) measure. Stressing, “No African countries in the high HDI group, small number in the medium HDI group; and majority in the low HDI group,” that is, 32 out of 35 countries in Africa.

In order to sustain CAADP momentum, he suggested that less focus must be on the issue of public financing and development aid, hence he decried weak inter-ministerial and inter-sectorial coordination and multiplicity of initiatives. He emphasised that Africa still has food insecure and high levels of hunger and malnutrition, maintaining that low agric productivity has resulted in low rural incomes.

Summary:

Above all, more needed to be done by African countries and West Africa in particular in ensuring that food security is a priority of every member of the ECOWAS and the imperativeness of working out an increased budget allocation other than the 10 per cent as stipulated in CAADP scheme to finding a financial module that is sustaining and more attractive to the region, with likelihood of spurring other African regions so as to boost agriculture harvest and keep it on the table of the political leaders.

NaijaAgroNet:

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Misconceptions on dry lands and pastoralism

PASTORALIST move their livestock with the seasons, in search of good pasture across the drylands. Recent droughts in Africa are making decision makers question the viability of pastoralism, particularly in the face of future climate variability and change. But their fears are founded on misconceptions.

Governments fear collapse

Governments are concerned pastoralism will collapse, driving millions of people into destitution at huge cost to national economies. Collapse would also make pastoral areas more insecure, with ramifications for political and economic stability. So policies to settle pastoralists and introduce them to modern cropping and livestock production, or to choose different livelihoods, are thus once again on the agenda.

Potted history

Ever since colonial times, policy makers have viewed pastoralism as backward, uneconomic and environmentally destructive; responsible for fuelling conflict and needing to be brought into line with ‘progressive and modern’ development. Policies have consistently sought to settle pastoral communities and turn them into ‘modern’ livestock keepers, in the image of Australian and American cattle breeders. Privatising the commons, land titling, introducing ranches with non-indigenous breeds and providing plenty of permanent water are some of the investments used to increase cattle productivity and ‘modernise’ pastoral people. The vast majority of these actions have proved ineffective as well as costly in environmental, social and economic terms.

Such policies are ill-conceived; and pastoralists, their advocates and scientific knowledge on pastoral systems challenge this view. Historically, settlement approaches have failed, undermining pastoral production, exacerbating poverty, and causing environmental degradation and conflict in many pastoral areas of Africa.

Productive pastures

With appropriate support, pastoralism is actually the most cost-effective and climate resilient livelihood system for the drylands. Even with a legacy of antagonistic policies, pastoralists are not just surviving but are creating substantial economic value. The statistics are fragmentary, but the evidence is growing. Pastoralism directly supports around 20 million people in eastern Africa,[1] produces 80% of the total annual milk supply in Ethiopia, provides 90% of the meat consumed in East Africa, and contributes 19%, 13% and 8% of GDP in Ethiopia, [2]Kenya [3] and Uganda,[4] respectively. In Ethiopia, annual returns to capital from livestock are around 2.1-2.6 billion USD. [5] When measured per hectare, pastoralism also out-performs ranching and sedentary livestock keeping in similar environments.

Pastoralism is not only economically effective, but also ecologically efficient and sustainable. Its mobile production strategies are a crucial way of harnessing variably-distributed nutritious pastures to increase livestock productivity while also adapting to extreme events, such as drought, that will increase with climate change. The recent SCOPE report Livestock in a Changing Landscape (2010) finds pastoralism performs better than intensive livestock in relation to overall green house gas emissions.

Pastoralism’s strategies for success

Pastoralists use tried and tested strategies and institutions to exploit climatic variability in drylands and maintain relatively high long term production despite periodic losses. These strategies include mobility (to reach both pastures and markets); animals bred to selectively feed on the most nutritious pastures; designated wet and dry season grazing; mixed livestock herds, and complex (and sometimes reciprocal) tenure rules.

So what is causing the problem?

Yet pastoral systems are increasingly failing to provide sustainable livelihoods. This is largely a direct result of inappropriate policy and development interventions. Government failure to understand pastoralism leads to poor policies that undermine pastoral strategies, making them vulnerable to climate variability and extreme events like drought. This creates and perpetuates poverty and contributes to conflict that, in a vicious circle, reinforces misconceptions about drylands.

Pastoralist’s strategically important grasslands are lost to:

•             other land uses such as wildlife conservation, private and government ranches, irrigated and rain-fed agriculture. Ruling national elites and powerful global economic players use the image of degraded drylands to promote large-scale appropriation, fragmentation and conversion of rangelands. Yet the alternatives they favour often cause environmental degradation. Large-scale agricultural irrigation and mechanisation schemes, ranching or export-oriented agribusiness all have a track record of short-lived returns but a heavy ecological footprint.

•             development of permanent settlements in once prime grazing areas and;

•             failure of nation states to recognize customary pastoral institutions.

In Africa, four major trends have resulted from this inappropriate policy environment.

•             Rangeland degradation has made pastures less productive and resilient, so they support fewer livestock.

•             Poorer households, less able to withstand drought because they have fewer livestock, are becoming more common. This brings a disproportionate impact on women and children.

•             Fragmentation of rangelands also makes pastoralists less able to use their traditional coping strategies. 

•             Conflict is becoming increasingly frequent and violent in pastoral areas due to a complex mix of factors: loss of livelihood security, land fragmentation and alienation, a proliferation of automatic weapons, disempowerment of traditional institutions and a growing sense of disillusionment by an increasingly disenfranchised youth with few social or economic prospects.

As pressures increase, many in the next generation of pastoralists will need to look beyond livestock to secure viable livelihoods.

A future for pastoralism

The future of African drylands, and their people, lies in securing pastoralism for those who wish to remain pastoralists, and providing alternative, but complementary, livelihoods options for those who do not (or cannot). TheAfrican Union policy framework for pastoralism offers a real opportunity to make pastoralism a mainstream part of national and regional policies. Pastoral people, and their institutions, must be central to this. Designing supportive national policy and investments cannot be left to governments alone.

Improving policy makers’ understanding of what makes drylands work — their ecology, economics and society — is a pre-requisite, but is not enough. Political leverage is also necessary, and it must be driven by ‘pastoral citizens’. To address this dual challenge, IIED is researching the Total Economic Value of pastoralism, running a training programme on the policy implications of supporting resilient dryland economies and societies, and working with local and national governments to improve climate resilient planning in dryland areas.

courtesy: IIED.

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*Pix: Dry lands are ephemeral but resilient resources, not deserts. Photo: Stephen Anderson

Farmer, civil servant collect N1m cheque @ Glo “Recharge to Stardom” promo

A Nigerian farmer and a civil servant are among 11 winners of various prizes that went home at the weekend N1 million richer as they emerged winners in the on-going Glo “Recharge to Stardom” promo in a ceremony held in Ibadan, Oyo State

The lucky winners who collected their prizes at the event include Samson Olabode, an Ibadan-based farmer in Oyo state and Ayodeji Ettu, a civil servant from Ogun state who went home with N1 million each. Other winners who collected cheques at the occasion include Olayemi Olaigbe, Oluwakemi Olashore, Hameed Adegoke, Abeeb Popoola and Oluwaseun Ojebode who won N25,000 each while Ajani Razak, Olajide Ismaila, Phillip Ademola and Adetayo Adeoye went home with cheques for N10,000 each.

One of those who won N1million is Samson Olabode, a poultry farmer in Ibadan, Oyo state. Married with 2 kids, Olabode said that it was a big surprise and he initially did not believe that it was true. “I have been using my phone for over 5 years and I was just loading normally as was my practice to call my relations abroad. I feel very happy and I want to thank Glo and its Chairman for this great gesture. Glo is the number one network that gives back to the masses. I believe many families will benefit from this promo”, he said.

Ayodeji Ettu, a non-academic staff of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), who also went home with N1milion at the occasion, said that he had been in a dream-like state since he was told that he won such a huge sum in the promo that he did not tell his wife and family that he was coming for the prize presentation. “I feel great right now and I want to appreciate Glo for making communication cheaper for Nigerians. I urge other Nigerians to use Glo since they can also become a winner like me”, he stated.

Mrs. Oluwakemi Olashore, a Lagos-based businesswoman who won N25,000 in the promo was also excited that she won. “I urge everyone to use Glo as it is a good network. In fact my husband and everyone in my family will now have to use Glo and keep recharging until we win the N25 million grand prize”, she said.

Speaking at the event, Globacom’s Divisional Director (Lagos/West 1), Kunle Akanmu said that the prize presentation was in keeping with Glo’s promise to reward its loyal subscribers as the company marks the 10^th anniversary of the commencement of its operations. “Since we started the promo a few weeks ago, we have given out millions of naira and other cash prizes to several winners at several prize presentations held in Lagos and Abuja. And today, we are holding simultaneous prize presentations in Ibadan and Onitsha”, he said.

“The Glo “Recharge to Stardom” promo offers thousands of loyal subscribers on the Glo network the opportunity to win various prizes ranging from N10,000 up to the grand prize of N25 million. Prepaid and post-paid Glo subscribers who recharge with N200 and above during the promo period stand a chance of winning any of the prizes ranging from N10,000 to N1million while subscribers who recharge up to N5,000 during the promo period stand a chance of winning the grand prize of N25million”, he added.

 

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Dangote, Consortium sign N539bn deal to build petro-refinery, fertilizer plant in Nigeria

NaijaAgroNet:

Dangote Industries Limited has entered a deal worth $3.3bn, about N539 billion with a consortium of local and international banks to build petro-refinery and fertilizer plant on Nigerian soil, touted for as the largest on the continent of Africa, following an agreement consummated in Abuja.

Reports available to NaijaAgroNet from Dangote Group showed that the plants, which will cost a total of $9 billion will generate up to 9,500 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs, in addition to reducing current volumes of refined fuel imports by around 50 per cent and effectively stopping the importation of fertilizer.

“The USD9 billion project will be financed by USD3 billion equity and USD6 billion loan capital. Today’s signing ceremony commits the first tranche of loans secured by Dangote, comprising a USD3.3 billion term loan facility supported by a consortium of 12 local and international banks. This first facility was jointly co-ordinated by Standard Chartered Bank as the Global Coordinator, and Nigeria’s Guaranty Trust Bank PLC as the Local Coordinator,” the Dangote Group said.

“With the refining capacity expected to reach 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day and producing a variety of refined fuel products from local crude resources, Nigeria will cut its current volumes of imported fuel products by a massive 50 per cent. The 2.8 million tonnes of urea will be channelled into growing the local agriculture sector which is essential in producing healthy crops and promoting Nigeria and West Africa’s agricultural development. The Petrochemical plant will produce Polypropylene which is a common component of most plastic and fabric products, for example it is used in various forms of packaging, ropes and agro-sacks,” he said.

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote was quoted as saying this plant will further entrench Africa’s role on the global map as not only a valued contributor for natural resources, but also a competent manufacturer of refined products and fertilizer. 

 

"As a result, several African nations will be less reliant on importing fuel and fertilizer from foreign markets, reducing the negative impact of negotiating terms within increasingly turbulent international markets,” he said.

Speaking, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Ms. Bola Adesola said “Standard Chartered is proud to support the Dangote Group in a project which will significantly boost Nigeria’s economic productivity and create valuable jobs with specialist skills from key growth sectors.

 

"This project is an historic example of self-empowerment and leadership for the continent as a whole – and is made possible through effective partnerships between the Nigerian private sector, Government and international financial institutions. Standard Chartered remains committed to being here for good in Nigeria, and the region,” she said.

Equally commenting, Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, noted that this is the largest syndication by banks in Nigeria and it is being undertaken with the knowledge that the successful implementation of Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer project will have far reaching implications for Nigeria’s economic growth.

Agbaje pointed out that GTBank is very proud to be associated with Dangote Industries on this landmark project and commended its Chairman,  Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his steadfastness, hard work and genuine desire to see remarkable economic improvement within the country.

NaijaAgroNet

 

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AFEX, FMARD sign MoU on national agro warehousing project

The pan African Exchange Holdings (AFEX), led by Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings (http://www.heirsholdings.com), Nicolas Berggruen, Chairman of Berggruen Holdings, and Jendayi Frazer, President of 50 Ventures, to establish commodity exchanges across Africa, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture to create a pioneering warehouse receipt system that will enable Nigerian farmers and cooperatives to safely store their produce at accredited warehouses.

NaijaAgroNet reported African Press Organization (APO) as quoted Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the transformational Minister of Agriculture, as saying, “Strengthening agricultural markets is critical to diversifying Nigeria's economy. Our partnership with AFEX will help to improve the access of farmers to markets, reduce post-harvest losses, stabilize prices and raise their incomes. We are rapidly modernizing agriculture in Nigeria and the development of warehouse receipt systems will underpin the successful establishment of thriving agricultural commodities exchanges in Nigeria.”

Elumelu, the Chairman of AFEX Holdings, said, “We are pleased to be working with the Nigerian government on this project to deliver transformative, sustainable investment to the country’s agribusiness sector. This initiative is a step towards financially empowering more farmers and ensuring that agriculture is not only commercially viable, but a strong positive contributor to the Nigerian economy. This builds on the experience and success of our subsidiary – East Africa Exchange – in Rwanda which has become a critical player in agribusiness development across the continent.”

He continued: “My partners and I are greatly encouraged by the transformation of Nigeria's agriculture sector as driven by Dr Adesina and we want to support the federal government in its innovative approach.”

Nicolas Berggruen, the founder and president of Berggruen Holdings, said, “Agriculture in Africa is key to the prosperity of the continent.  Specifically for Nigeria, we are investing in the infrastructure needed to ensure the flow of commodities from farms to the local, regional, and global marketplace.”

Nigerian farmers may now use receipts for their produce as collateral for loans. This will control price volatility due to the availability of buffer stock, enabling farmers to sell produce at better price points. The two-year pilot phase of the warehouse receipt system covers seven states, mostly in northern Nigeria, where agriculture is by far the largest economic sector – Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kwara, Gombe and Oyo – and will commence in October 2013.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture will support the warehouse receipt system by creating the enabling environment that is essential for its successful delivery, and will also provide warehouse infrastructure.

Jendayi Frazer, the former US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, who is the Managing Partner at AFEX, stated, “The warehouse receipt system will help improve food security across Nigeria. It will not only give farmers and cooperatives better access to markets by linking their market produce to high-value buyers, but will also deliver higher profits for stakeholders. AFEX believes our electronic warehouse receipt system and improved warehousing operations will be the stepping stone to establishing a vibrant commodities exchange in Nigeria.”

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Health Minister leads speakers at 1st Nigeria e-Health Summit

The Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, would on Thursday, September 12, 2013 in Lagos, declare open the 1^st Nigeria eHealth Summit.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the summit which will take place during the 2013 West African Health (WAH) Conference & Exhibition that runs from September 10 to 12, 2013 in Eko Hotel & Suites would be used to brainstorm and strategise on how to develop and invest in this sector.

Dr. Wale Alabi, Chief Executive Officer WAH says some of the objectives are, “to improve understanding of current e-Health ecosystem in healthcare in Nigeria – from government and private sector perspectives; identify key opportunities and constraints in leveraging technology to improve health care delivery in the country.”

Furthermore, it is expected that delegates would come up with a blueprint for the private sector led e-Health in Nigeria.

Expected at the summit are both international and local experts in health and technology. Some of which are; Dr. Baba Adamu, Senior Special Adviser on ICT in the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria; Sam Quarchie, Head ICT, Ghana Health Services; Dr. Okunola Olumide, International Finance Corporation (IFC); Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Coordinator, NCC Save One Million Lives; Dr. Simpa Dania, CEO/Lead Consultant, Health Informatics; and Dr. Pamela Ajayi, CEO Pathcare.

Also, expected are; Valentine Obi, CEO eTransact; Tunji Ashiru  interswitch Smart Health, Dr. Egbe Osifo-Dawodu, Anadach Group; Dr. Ladi Awosika, Total Health Trust; Dr. Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner of Health; Dr. Olumuyi Gbadegbesin, Oyo State Commissioner of Health; Dr. Adebola, President, Society of Telemedicine in Nigeria; etc.

According to Alabi, the forum would hopefully come out with strategic frameworks that could change the ways hospitals and  health systems are governed and administered.   

The West Africa Health expo and conference is the biggest  indigenous annual meeting and exhibition of medical fraternity aimed at resolving some of Nigerian and West African ’s health challenges.

Hosted by Global Projects,Andaach group, and Ajimatics  , it is an international Exhibition focusing on medical equipment, scientific and laboratory instruments, hospital furniture, pharmaceutical products and services.

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Pix: Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu

Awba-Ofemili: Christians vs Pagans, 20 critically injured

NaijaAgroNet:

News reaching us shows that there was blood letting in the sleeping town of Awba-Ofemili in Awka-North Local Government Area of Anambra State, following a clash between Christians and touts who claimed to be pagans in the town reputed for its ‘Awba-Ofemili rice.’

NaijaAgroNet gathered that not less than 20 Christians were heavily injured with matchet cuts during a Christian vigil crusade held inside St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Awba-Ofemili, even as this may not be unconnected to 2012 flood largesse, which petition is before the Anambra State government and was jointly signed by Rev. Fr. Emma Ezenwata and Rev. Patrick Odinanwa.

Also, St. Paul’s Catholic Church was not left out as its roof was said to have been perforated with gun bullets by these touts who claim to be pagans as well as the Parish House recently completed by the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), while the Rice Mill, also owned by CWO was burnt down alongside some bags of rice awaiting milling.

Another source in the town told NaijaAgroNet that a day before, that is Sunday night, there was some skirmishes of threats in the town, culminating in the attack of St. Paul’s Anglican Church by same group of people, who claimed that they were observing ‘Obia-na-uchichi’ that is night masquerade season.

It was gathered in good authority that these hoodlums carted away the generating set that supplied electricity to the church, venue of the vigil on Sunday night.

Further sources from the town pointed accusing figures to the leadership of the town, under a regent Chief 

Benard Nwanelo and vigilante group, who up till the time of this report has not made any arrest. Efforts to get the side of Chief Nwanelo at the time of filing this report was not successful as his mobile phone was said to be switched off.

According to the Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Awba-Ofemili, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel  Ezenwata, who was out of town at the time of this incident, the pagans in the town burnt church building, blustered the roofs and ceilings of new Fathers’ House and destroyed building of some Christians in the town.

A source, who pleaded for anonymity said that the wind of the crisis was very evident during last weekend, leading to summon of the church leaders and those claiming traditionalists in preparation for the annual ceremony which last for about a week, and which forbids women from being outside from about 6pm and restricts movement likewise, except for the initiates.

“Despite the insistence of both parties to shed their swords, the town regent did not involve the Police, knowingly fully well that the security of the town was under threat,” our source alleged.

The catechist of St. Paul’s Anglican Church Awba-Ofemili, was said to be the most injured with several matchet cuts among 20 members of the Christendom attending the vigil, while the priest in-charge, Rev. Patrick Odinanwa, escaped through the nearby bush.

Unfortunately, the two medical centres in the town were reported to have since stopped working and the nearest is located at Ebenebe, near Amansea with poor road network.

“This could lead in deaths due to uncontrolled bleeding by the injured,” our source lamented.

Confirming this to NaijaAgroNet, President General, Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU), Mr. Chukwuma Nwabufo told correspondent, he was on his way to the town, decrying the incident, adding that the town has been very accommodative to any religion and did not understand why there should be a fracas this time around, even as he appealed for calm.

He has also reached out to the Divisional Police Officer in Ugbene, a neighbouring town on the matter, among the state apparatus.

Meanwhile, NaijaAgroNet recalls that a few weeks ago, both priests, Rev. Fr. Ezenwata and Rev. Odinanwa jointed petitioned the Anambra State government over the misappropriation of the N3 million meant for flood victims in the town last year.

The petition addressed to the Secretary to the Anambra State Government and Chairman, Committee on Flooding Anambra State, indicted some key members of the town union in collaboration with the town’s Regent, the Onosolu Eze, Chief Nwanelo, for allegedly connived with each other to divert the said fund.

NaijaAgroNet further learnt that following the intervention of one of its sons, Mr. Sabastine Okoye, who is the current Commissioner for Environment, the matter was withdrawn to be settled at home.

The joint petition which was also sent to the Governor Anambra State, had the Catholic Bishop of Awka and his Anglican counterpart, as well as the Transition Chairman, Awka – North L.G.A, the Regent and ADU president general, all in copy.

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Food security index ranks Nigeria 86 out of 107

Breaking News

NaijaAgroNet

Nigeria has been ranked 86 in the latest Global Food Security Index (GFSI) reports made available to NaijaAgroNet.

The indexing which cut across three core categories, namely the affordability, availability, quality and safety.

The GFSI published by Intelligence Unit of The Economist, also ranked Nigeria 84 in the quality and safety index.

The ranking, NaijaAgroNet gathered showed that Nigeria scored 38.7 per cent  in category scores to emerge 84 in ranking, while within the availability scores, Nigeria was ranked 62, scoring 47.8 category score, even as in the affordability ranking category, Nigeria got 105 with 15.1 score.

All these brought about total ranking of Nigeria at 86, among the 107 countries indexed within the latest review with 33 scores.

According to The Economist, Nigeria's strength was defined as any indicator score above 75.0; in the prevalence of undernourishment, intensity of food deprivation and volatility of agricultural production.

Whereas the challenges where found in presence of food safety net programmes, public expenditure on agricultural research and development (R&D) in addition to corruption.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that currently Nigeria's Gross Domestic Products (GDP) stood at 283.3 billion; population at 170.1 million; Land Area at 910,770 sq km; prevalence of undernourishment 8.5  per cent.

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FMARD inaugurates Oversight Committee on Cassava Bread Fund

Adesina:-

NaijaAgroNet:

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has inaugurated a 16-man Oversight Committee on Cassava Bread Fund, following an earlier presidential approval for the fund.

At the inaugural meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, met with representatives of Master Bakers’ Association of Nigeria, Cassava Growers’ Association of Nigeria, National Cassava Processors and Millers Association of Nigeria, Dutch Agricultural Development and Trading Company (DADTCO), Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, C:AVA, Budget Office of the Federation and officials of the ministry.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that in his remarks, Dr. Adesina noted that the approval of the fund will reduce the huge expenses incurred by the federal government on importation of wheat, estimated at N635 billion annually. He stressed that research by Lake Chad Research Institute has resulted in the release of three tropical high-yielding wheat varieties with yield record of 5.0 to 6.2 tons per hectare. 

The minister, stressed the need to be transparent and accountable in judicious use of the fund by the committee, which had the tasks of building robust fresh roots supply chains for cassava processing plants; supporting large/medium High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) mills, SMEs producing HQCF and masters bakers on 20 per cent HQCF cassava bread production; social marketing of 20 per cent cassavas bread and pre-emptive measures against cassava brown streak disease.

At the meeting, it was decided that a total of 5,000 bakers will be trained and supported at six bakers per local government area across the 774 LGAs.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the inaugural meeting witnessed an agreement that Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) and National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) be co-opted into the committee and that the initiative will operate as a revolving fund facility to support both cassava bread and local wheat production.

NaijaAgroNet

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‘Women influential in rise of Christianity’

A band of forgotten women were hugely influential in the rise of Christianity, a five-year study has found, NaijaAgroNet can authoritatively report.

Professor Kate Cooper of The University of Manchester, told NaijaAgroNet, their contribution has been neglected by the mainstream churches in her new book released this August.

NaijaAgroNet gather that the study identified dozens of forgotten Christian women who were influential in the first and second centuries, during a period when Christianity was - in some respects - more progressive towards women than today.

According to Professor Cooper, women played a central role in spreading the new Christian faith through informal friendship and family networks.

Their authority within Christian communities was earned through their role as parents, community organizers, and small business owners.

One, Lydia the Purple-seller of Philippi remembered in the Bible’s Book of Acts, was the first person to sponsor St Paul.

Another woman, Perpetua, who lived in Carthage at the end of the second century, was famous at the time for refusing to denounce her faith, choosing martyrdom against her father’s wishes.

Her diary, written while she awaited execution in prison, was a radical document which would be seen in today’s world as extreme and very unlike the official Christian views of what the Christian woman should be, says Professor Cooper.

One of the most important, she says, is Thecla of Iconium, believed by second century Christians to have been one of St Paul’s disciples.

Referring to the ‘Acts of Paul and Thecla’, an anonymous second century text, Professor Cooper shows how Thekla rebelled against her family to refuse marriage - an unthinkable act at the time.

“Though there is no certain evidence that Thecla existed, her story was hugely influential in the first few hundred years of early Christianity,” said Professor Cooper.

“The influence of her story was far-reaching, in that it became the root of the Catholic theology of chastity and virginity.

“Every major Christian male writer in the fourth century had a sister, and these young women were encouraged to follow Thecla’s example. Rather than criticizing her for disobeying her mother, the early Church celebrated her courage.

“Christianity was quite revolutionary in the way it treated its women, especially when you realise how sexist the ancient world was.

“So it’s sad that Thecla and her contemporaries are not properly remembered and honoured today. They should be an inspiration: for example to the people campaigning for women bishops and priests.”

Women, says Professor Cooper, regularly preached the gospel in the first two centuries of Christianity, and in some communities women carried out baptisms.

It wasn’t until the Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, in around 313 AD, the religion became institutionalised: male bishops were now government officials and women came to be seen as players in the background rather than public figures.

Professor Cooper added: “These women – saints who had a radical and powerful presence in the early church – have been hidden in plain sight.

“Many Gospel stories, for example – such as the story of Mary and Martha in the Gospel of Luke – can tell us far more about women’s role if we stop to pay close attention – something male writers have not done.

“The ancient sources mention the women, but over time less and less attention was given to their role. Really, they have been airbrushed out of history.

“It is quite sad that a religion which began with a mother and her wonderful baby should still have so much difficulty with remembering to honour the contribution of its women.”

Correspondent/NaijaAgroNet 
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